Practice-clavier.



3 Sheets-Shoal l.

Patented Nov. 4, I902.

A. C. BERGHAN.

PRACTICE CLAVIER.

(A'pplicntion flled July 9, 1901.)

No. 7|2,9oo.

(Ila Model.)

1% EFF? WITNESSES m. 7|2,9oo.

A. e. BEBGIAII.

PRACTICE GLAVIER.

A u m e, 1001. (lo lodol.)

Patented Ngv. 4, I902.

a sum-sum a.

ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AMOS O. BERGMAN, OF NTHV YORK, N. Y.

PRACTlCE-CLAVIER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 712,900, dated November4, 1902.

Application filed July 9, 1901. Serial No. 67,608. (No niodelfi T (LZZwhom it 'lm'ty concern.-

Beit known that I, AMOS O. BERGMAN, a citizen of the United States,residing atNew York, in the county and State of New York, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Practice-Claviers, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to practice-claviers; and it has for its objectto provide an iin proved instrument of this class which shall possessfeatures of superiority with respect to positiveness and smoothness ofoperation and facility of assembling and disconnection of parts andwherein the action will permit of increased delicacy and accuracy oftouch and will simulate more closely the action of a pianoforte.

The present invention in its specific features of departure from theprior state of the art comprises certain improvements over thesubject-matter covered by a prior application for Letters Patent of theUnited States, filed by me June 5, 1900, and upon which applicationLetters Patent were issued February 12,

1901, numbered 668,003; and said improve,

ments pertain more particularly to an upright type of action, in whichthe hammer elements normally occupy an upright position.

A further particular object of the present invention consists in theprovision of an im-. proved hammer element ofincreased accuracy ofadjustment and responsiveness of operation.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan View, centrally broken away, ofa-practice-clavier action and the casing thereof, the whole beingconstructed according to the present invention and parts being omittedfor clearness of illustration. Fig. 2 is a detail longitudinal sectionalview of the same. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the improved hammerelement embodied in the present invention. Fig. 4. is a detailhorizontal sectional view of the improved hammer element, taken upon theline X X, Fig. Fig. 5 is a detail side elevation, partly broken away andpartly in section, of the primary sounding element and means foradjusting the same, the parts of the same being in operative position.Fig. 6 is a similar view, the parts being in inoperative position. Fig.7 is a similar view, partly in section and partly broken away, of thesee oudary sounding element and means for adjusting the same, the partsof the same being in operative position. Fig. 8 is a similar view, theparts beingin inoperative position. Fig. 9 is a plan view, partly brokenaway, of the secondary sounding element and the means for adjusting thesame.

Corresponding parts in all the figures are denoted by the same referencecharacters.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the bottom member, and 2, 3, at,and 5 designate, respectively, the front, rear, and side members of thecasing or frame of theaction of my improved practice-clavier. The sides4 and 5 are connected by a front plate 6, which is spaced above thebottom member 1 to accom inodate the keys 7 in the customary manner.Transversely of the bottom member 1 is arranged a balance-rail 8, uponwhich the keys are pivotally supported by the balancepins S). The bottommember 1 embodies a stop-plate 10 at the forward edge of the same, andsaid stop-plate is provided with the guidepins 11, which operate in thecustomary manner in connection with the slotted forward end portions ofthe keys. The front plate 6 is provided at its lower edge with acushionstrip 12, which is thus interposed between the same and the keys.A stop-plate 13 is arranged transversely of the rear of the bottommember 1 and serves to limit the downward play of the keys. The keys 7are preferably weighted at their rearward ends, as at 14, to cause themaintenance of the same in normal position, wherein their forward endsare elevated for operative depression; but to cause a variableresistance to the operative depression of the forward ends of the keysfor the customary practice and exercise purpose I may employ a suitabletouch-regulating mechanism 15, in which a plurality of spring-fingers16, arranged to bear upon the rear end portions of the keys, are carriedby a pivoted touch-bar 17, which latter may be moved by means of aregulating-arm 18, provided with a knob or head 19, and through themedium of suitable connection devices to 1 increase or decrease thetension of the springfingers 16 upon the rear end portions of the keys.

The touch-regulating mechanism described constitutes in its essentialfeatures the subjectonatter of a separate application for Letters Patentof the United States which was filed by me December 13, 1900, Serial No.39,852, and while admirably adapted for the purposes in viewconstitutes'no part of the present invention and may be departed from asdesired in practicing the latter.

Each of the keys 7 actuates a separate hammer element 21, which hammerelements are installed in a series transversely of the frame or casingof the action .and above the keys and are arranged to be operated inconnection with a primary sound-producing element 22 and a secondarysound-producing element 23 to produce the customary clicks or tonelesssounds. These sound -producing elements extend transversely of the frameor casing of the action and above the keys 7 and are capable of movementinto and out of the paths of play of adjustable primary and secondarystriker devices 24 and 25, respectively, and which are carried by thehammer elements 2], there being provided one of the primary strikerdevices and one of the secondary striker devices for each of the hammerelements.

The sound-producing elements 22 and 23, the hammer elements 21, and thetouch-bar 17 are all preferably mounted upon a plurality of uprightsupports 26, which rest upon the bottom member 1 of the frame or casingof the action and extend in a series or row transversely of the same,the keys 7 being properly formed and arranged to accommodate saidsupports in their upward projection.

27 designates means for moving or adjusting the primary sound-producingelement 22 into and out of the path of play of the primary strikerdevices 2%, and 28 designates means for moving or adjusting thesecondary sound-producing element 23 into and outof the path of play ofthe secondary striker devices 25. The primary sound-producing element isdesigned to be operated upon by the primary striker devices in thedepression of the forward ends of the keys 7, and the secondarysound-producing element is designed to be'operated upon by the secondarystriker devices in the elevation of the forward ends of the keys 7, andthrough the agency of the adjusting or moving means 27 and 28 bothsound-producing elements may be so controlled as to permit of thecustomary click upon either the depression or elevation, or both, of theforward ends of the keys for the well-understood practice purposes.

The hammer elements 21 are carried upon any jumping or overthrow actionof the same. Each of the hammer elements 21 comprises a hammer proper,31, a pivoted supporting-flange 32, and a fixed'foot 33. The strikerdevices are carried by the hammer proper and at the upper or outer endof the same. Tensional means 34 are provided, which operate upon theflange 32 and the hammer proper, 31, and exert a tendency to maintainthe hammer proper in normal position. The pivotal connection of theflange 32 and the hammer proper, as at 35, constitutes the operativepivotal support of the latter and permits the hammer proper to play in apath of movement longitudinal of the action and in a vertical plane. Thehammer proper is actuated through the medium of the fixed foot 33, whichis,directly engaged by an upright capstan-screw 36, fixed to therespective key 7. The tensional means 34: normally maintains the fixedfoot 33 in contact with the capstanscrew 36 for immediate actuation upondepression of the forward end of the respective key.

Each hammer proper, 31, is provided at its upper end and upon its rearface with a cushion 3l ,which engages the primary soundproducing element22 to limit the inoperative rearward movement of the respective hammerelement.

Each of the fixed feet 33 may be formed integral with the respectivehammer proper, 31, and projects forwardly from the lower end of the sameat a general angular divergence from the longitudinal axis of the sameof approximately ninety degrees. The said fixed feet are preferably ofslightly downwardly curved longitudinal formation and terminate at theirforward or outer ends in depending .contact-pieces 52, the loweroperative surface working contact with the respective capstanscrews 36.

Each of the hammer elements is provided with an adjustable stop device54, whereby may be regulated the normal position of the same for properactuation by its respective key 7 to obtain the proper operativemovement of the hammer element. The stop devices 54 preferably operatein connection with the support-rail 29, the forward longitudinal edgeportion of which is rearwardly beveled, as at 55, to form acontact-surface beneath the flanges. Each of the stop devices 5a iscarried by the respective fixed foot 33 of the hammer element at a pointforward of the longitudinal axis of the respective hammer proper, therelative arrangement of parts being preferably such that thelongitudinal axis of the respective hammer proper is intermediate ot thepoint of pivotal connection of the respective flange 32 and hammerproper, 31, and the position of the respective stop device. It followsfrom the association of parts that two lines drawn, respectively,between the u pper end of each hammer proper and the point 35 of pivotalconnection of the respective flange and hammer proper and between therespective stop device and the point of piv- IlO otal connection of therespective flange and hammer proper will diverge at an angle at thepoint 35 of pivotal connection of the respective flange and hammerproper, and an increased leverage of the respective stop de-- vice uponthe hammer proper in the contact of the stop device with thesupport-rail is thus obtained, causing an increased delicacy andresponsiveness of action of the hammer element, due to a more positivetermination of the movement of the hammer element to normal position.

Each of the stop devices 5% may consist of a screw-shank 56, which isthreaded in the respective fixed foot 33 and carries beneath the same abutton 57, the lower face of which is formed to fit fiat upon thebeveled contactsurface 55 of the support-rail 29, the screw shank 56projecting obliquely upwardly through the respective fixed foot 33 whenthe button is in engagement with the supportrail. The button-shank isprovided at its upper and forward end with an eye or head 58, wherebythe stop device 5i may be adjusted.

The primary and secondary sound-producing elements 22 and 23 may consisteach, as set forth in the prior Letters Patent initially herein referredto, of a rigid bar or rail 59, preferably of wood and provided with aprojecting operative contact portion 60, of metal, rubber, or othersuitable material, which latter is in operation engaged by therespective primary or secondary striker devices to produce the requiredclicks or toneless sounds. Said sound-producing elements are pivotallycarried by the supports 26, as at 61 and 62, respectively, and arerespectively moved or swung into or out of operative position by themeans 27 and 28, respectively.

Each of the supports 26 embodies three brackets or members 63, 64, and65,1'espectively, by means of which the sound-producing elements 22 and23, the support-rail 29, and the touch-bar 17 are respectively supportedor carried, and said members for the proper and convenient associationor assemblage of parts vary in altitude from the forward to the rearwardmember, the member 63 constituting the forward member, the memberconstituting the rearward member, and the member 64 constituting theintermediate member. The entire support may be of integral construction,as illustrated, and be inexpensively cast or otherwise formed ofsuitable metal. The bracket 65 consists of a rearwardly-projecting arm74, with which the touch-bar 17 is pivotally connected.

The means 27 for moving or adjusting the primary sound-producingelements 22 may consist of a thumb-lever 76, pivotally connected, as at77, with one side member 5 of the casing or frame at one side of the keyboard 73, consisting of the forward ends of the keys 7, and anadjusting-bar 78, which is slidably supported upon a block 79, mountedupon the bottom member 1 of the casing or frame, said adjusting-barbeing pivotally connectcd at its forward end, as at 80, with the lowerend of the thumb-lever 76 and pivotally connected at its rearward end,as at 81, with a toggle 82, which latter is in turn pivotally connectedat its upper end, as at 83, with a fixed arm 84, which is secured to thetop of the bar 59 of the primary sound-producing element 22, as at 85.The adjustingbar 78 is capable of reciprocation longitudinally of thecasing and is maintained in adjusted position by means of a flat spring86, one end of which is fixed, as at 87, to ablock 88, mounted upon thebottom member 1 of the casing or frame. The th umb-lever is providedwith a finger-piece 89, by which it may be oscillated to reciprocate theadjusting-bar 78 and swing the primary sound-producing element 22 uponits pivotal support either into or out of operative position withrespect to the primary striker devices 24.

The means 28 for moving or adjusting the secondary sound-producingelement 23 may consist of devices the duplicate in construction andarrangement of the parts and features 76 to 89, inclusive, and aredesignated by the reference characters 76 to 89, inclusive; but themeans 28 are arranged at the opposite side of the casing or the frame.Vith the parts of the means 27 in inoperative position the toggle 82extends substantially vertically beneath the sound producing element 22,while with the parts of the means 28 in operative position the toggle 82extends substantially vertically. The two sound-producing elements thusswing toward each other into operative position and away from each otherout of operative position.

Each of the finger-pieces 89 and 89 of the thumb-levers 76 and 76 ismoved rearwardly to bring the respective sound-producing element intooperative position and forwardly to bring the respective sound-producingelement into inoperative position.

It will be noted that the hammer elements 21 extend in a continuousseries transversely of the action and respectively in vertical alinementwith the keys 7, and the sound-producting elements 22 and 23 also extendtransversely of the action atright angles with and above the keys. Bydisconnecting the support-rail from the supports 26 the hammer elementsin their entire assemblage may be removed from the casing or frame,permitting the keys to be removed. The several parts of the action arethen conveniently assembled or disconnected in manufacture or forrepair.

The adjusting means 27 and 28 are provided each with separate adjustablestop devices 90, each of which latter may consist of a stopscrew 91,which is mounted in the frame of the action at one end of the keyboard73, as at 92, and is arranged to bear upon a contactpiece 93, carried bythe respective lever 76 or 76. By means of the stop devices 90 the throwor pivotal movement of the sound-producing elements may be finelyregulated to obtain the properoperative contact of the striker deviceswith the same.

The operation and advantage of my improved practice-clavier will bereadily under- I stood.

The methods of use for practice, technical and instructive, of theimproved practice-clavier is well known and fully disclosed in the priorart, being similar in general principle to the methods of use of thepractice-clavier covered by the prior Letters Patent initially hereinreferred to. The keys 7 are operated upon by the fingers at the keyboard'7 3 in the same manner as the keyboard of a piano, and the depressionof the keys at the keyboard serves to actuate the hammer elementsthrough the medium of the capstan-screws 36, and the hammers proper, 31,are oscillated rearwardly to cause the operative engagement of theprimary striker devices 24 with the primary sound-producing element 22.The impact of this engagement causes the repulsion of the hammersproper, which repulsion, together with the tensional action of thetensional means 34, causes the operative engagement of the secondarystriker devices 25 with the secondary sound-producing element 23.

The sound-producing elements may be readily moved or adjusted into andout of the paths of play of the respective primary and secondary strikerdevices by the respective adjusting means 27 and 28 and will bepositively retained in operative position partly through the media ofthe respective springs 86 and 86, which bear operatively upon therespective adjusting-bars 78 and 7 8. The touch-bar 17 may readily beoperated upon by the touchregulating means 15 to vary the tension of thespring-fingers 16 upon the keys according to the resistance with whichit is desired to 0ppose the operative depression of the keys. Theweighting of the rear ends of the keys at 14 causes, normally, thereturn of the same to normal position, in which the forward ends of thekeys are in elevated position for operative depression.

In the detail operation of the hammer elements, in which operation thenovel construction and association of parts embodied in the presentimprovements permit of a highly perfect simulation of the hammer actionof a pianoforte,the fixed feet of the same engage with thecapstan-screws previous to the completion of the excursions 0f the keys,and thus cause simulation of the same effect produced inpianoforte-playing. The tensional means 34 yieldingly oppose the initialoscillation or actuation of the hammer elements, and thus cause anefiect similar to that produced by the inertia-opposed movement of theparts of a pianoforte. The adjustable stop devices 54 may be adjustedwith respect to the degree of projection of the buttons 57 beneath thefixed feet 33 to regulate the forward play of the hammer elements 21 andprovide for the proper contact of the contact-pieces 52 with thecapstan-screws. The arrangement of the stop readily be adjusted tocompensate for wear and tear of the parts and to provide for the perfectoperative con tact of the same with the sound-producing elements 22 and23.

By providing the supports 26, embodying unitarily the three members orbrackets 63, 64, and for the respective support of the sound-producingelements, the hammer elements, and the touch-bar-17, I obtain superioradvantages in point of rigidity and braced relationship of parts,together with facility of assembling and disconnection of parts.

The entire action closely simulates in use the action of an uprightpianoforte and as a practical instrument is productive of superiorresults from a standpoint of technique.

I do not desire to be understood as limiting myself to the specificform, construction, and arrangement of parts as herein described andshown, but reserve the right to vary the same in adapting theimprovements to varying conditions of use within the scope of myinvention and the terms of the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent- 1. In an improved practice-clavier, a support; and ahammer element pivoted to the support and consisting of a hammer proper,a projecting fixed foot adapted for engagement to actuate the hammerproper, and an adjustable stop device carried by the fixed foot andarranged to coact with the support to limit the movement of the hammerproper.

2.-- In an improved practice-clavier,a soundproducing element, a hammerelement, a key, and touch-regulating means for the key; and a supportconsisting of three projecting and connected brackets with which thesoundproducing element, the hammer element and the touch-regulatingmeans are respectively means for the keys, and a plurality of se-'rially-arranged supports; each of said supports consisting of threeconnected brackets with the forward of which the sound-producing elementis pivotally connected, the rearward bracket consisting of a projectingarm with which the touch-regulating means are pivotally connected, andthe intermediate bracket extending in a horizontal plane and supportingthe support-rail for the hammer elements.

5. In an improved practice-clavier, a support, a hammer element pivotedto the support, a key, a sound-producing element, and means foradjusting the same with respect to the path of play of said hammerelement; said hammer element consisting of a hammer proper provided witha striker device which in operation engages said sound-producing elementto produce a click, and a projecting fixed foot arranged for actuationby said key and provided with an adjustable stop device arrangedto coactwith the support to limit the movement of the hammer proper.

6. In an improved practice-clavier, a support, a hammer element pivotedto the support, a key, and a sound-producingelement; said hammer elementconsisting of a hammer proper provided with an adjustable striker devicedisposed for engagement with said sound-producing element, and aprojecting fixed foot arranged for actuation by said key and providedwith an adjustable stop device arranged to enact with the support tolimit the movement of the hammer proper.

7. In an improved practice-clavier, a hammer element, comprising ahammer proper provided with oppositely-directed adjustable strikerdevices, and a projecting fixed foot provided with an adjustable stopdevice.

8. In an improved practice-clavier, ahammer element, comprising a hammerproper provided with oppositely-directed adjustable striker devices, aflange with which the hammer proper is pivotally connected, tensionalmeans interposed between the flange and the hammer proper, and aprojecting fixed foot provided with an adjustable stop device.

9. In an improved practice-clavier, ahammer element, comprising a hammerproper provided with a striker device, and a fixed foot provided with anadjustable stop device; and a key arranged to actuate said hammerelement through the medium of said fixed foot.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name in the presence of thesubscribing witnesses.

V AMOS O. BERGMAN.

\Vitnesses:

RAYMOND I. BLAKESLEE, GEORGE KNOESEL.

